Baby Trend Files for Bankruptcy

Baby gear manufacturer Baby Trend, the company that makes the Flex-Loc car seat and the popular Sit N Stand stroller, has filed for bankruptcy following a big court judgment. Former employee Robert Gardner, who is the founder and CEO of Joovy, another stroller manufacturer, was awarded $6.9 million from Baby Trend and its founder/CEO Danny Tsai for wrongful termination, and another $1.4 million due to evidence that Baby Trend had committed fraud and acted with malice and oppression.

In addition, Gardner and patent-holder Albert Fairclough have ongoing litigation against Baby Trend because the company is said to have continued producing and selling the Sit N Stand stroller after their license for the patent expired in 2004. Joovy now has the license to produce stand-on tandem strollers, which they call the Caboose. Target is also named as a party in this lawsuit.

Since Baby Trend has filed for reorganization, we may see the company pop up again with a new name. For now, though, it appears that those of you who own Baby Trend products can still call for warranty service.